Introduction
This is a project I've wanted to do for a long time. I'm sad to say for various reasons, I almost stopped reading scriptures entirely when I got back from my mission. So many people told me how important this habit was to maintain, but I lacked the initiative and understanding to follow their advice. As I've been trying my best to get back into the scriptures I've noticed myself having a greater sense of peace and direction. This blog is mostly for me (yes that was a shameless Book of Mormon Musical reference), but I hope anyone who finds themselves reading this enjoys the insights I find as I daily try to re-kindle my relationship with the Book of Mormon. Feel free to message me if you want to chat at any time.
First Nephi Chapter One
Well, this is the chapter I've probably read the most in the Book of Mormon, but it's probably one I've taken for granted because I always try to blast through it to get deeper into the book. This has always seemed like a book about all of Nephi's cool adventures, but this time, I saw that Lehi has so much to offer as well.
Lehi's Example
I always assumed Lehi had always been a prophet. It always seemed so strange to me Laman and Lemuel were so stubborn when they were brought up with a prophet for a father.
As I read again, I realized this was not the case. Until directly prior to the first chapters in Nephi Lehi was a merchant. In 600 B.C. Jerusalem was filled with prophets. Although I'd been over this before something about multiple prophets just didn't stick, and I always thought Lehi was the guy. On the contrary, Lehi was a normal, yet faithful man in this time period. We do not meet Lehi praying as a prophet, but as a concerned citizen who faithfully goes to pray on behalf of his fellow man.
What I think is interesting to point out is that Lehi was not first on the scene to suggest Jerusalem would be destroyed. When other prophets were warning about the imminent danger Lehi did not know the truth of their words right away but instead went out to pray.
It was only when Lehi acted on the words of the prophet and sought out a witness for himself that he was given a divine manifestation, and himself became a prophet.
From this perspective, I think Laman and Lemuel start to become more human. It is understandable to see how difficult it would be if a handful of old men were shouting that your city would be destroyed, and suddenly your father drops everything and joins them.
This is why Lehi is such an important character. His example shows us that sometimes following the prophet can be difficult. There was a difficult church policy that was brought into light when I got back from my mission and I was upset at first. Allot of people were upset, and I think this situation was not unlike how the prophets in Jerusalem felt in 600 BC. My father prayed for understanding and told me these policies didn't bother him. Initially, I think I was more like Lamen and Lemuel then Nephi. I was mad my Dad sided with a policy that seemed downright unfair to me. I was angry for awhile, but it was not until I humbled myself, and prayed that I gained a reassured confidence in my Father's judgment and the direction of our own prophet.
I think what Lehi would teach us, in our own day filled with controversial issues and difficult decisions would be that it is okay to question. It is okay to be unsure when the brethren of the church make policy that we don't understand or seems strange to us. What is not okay is to mock them, or fight them, but rather as Lehi did inquire of the Lord and seek guidance and understanding. And just as Lehi, when the spirit speaks truth to us, we need to be just as willing to stand behind it, even if it difficult for those around us to bear (I'm talking about me). We have never been asked to follow blindly, but if we seek answers the Lord will help us gain our own witness. Standing behind our testimony then becomes more important than any view others may hold regardless of how popular it may be.
So I'll leave everyone with this encouragement; if there's anything you struggle with don't give up. Pray and keep praying. Although Lehi's revelation came through prayer, inspiration can take many forms. I have seen first hand how difficult certain questions can be and have experienced myself how easy it can be to want to give up on testimony. Please hold on and continue searching. I heard someone say recently that the cliches in life hide it's greatest truths. One cliche is that things work out and answers come right as you are about to give up. I have been close to giving up on the gospel before, but it was the decision to hold on just a little longer and search just a little bit further that has given me the answers to the questions that were impediments to my faith. Enduring to the end is not just a cliche, it is a central principle in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is through this endurance and unyielding faith that we may come to know and understand the mysteries of God.
Thanks for reading!
-Jake
This is a project I've wanted to do for a long time. I'm sad to say for various reasons, I almost stopped reading scriptures entirely when I got back from my mission. So many people told me how important this habit was to maintain, but I lacked the initiative and understanding to follow their advice. As I've been trying my best to get back into the scriptures I've noticed myself having a greater sense of peace and direction. This blog is mostly for me (yes that was a shameless Book of Mormon Musical reference), but I hope anyone who finds themselves reading this enjoys the insights I find as I daily try to re-kindle my relationship with the Book of Mormon. Feel free to message me if you want to chat at any time.
First Nephi Chapter One
Well, this is the chapter I've probably read the most in the Book of Mormon, but it's probably one I've taken for granted because I always try to blast through it to get deeper into the book. This has always seemed like a book about all of Nephi's cool adventures, but this time, I saw that Lehi has so much to offer as well.
Lehi's Example
I always assumed Lehi had always been a prophet. It always seemed so strange to me Laman and Lemuel were so stubborn when they were brought up with a prophet for a father.
As I read again, I realized this was not the case. Until directly prior to the first chapters in Nephi Lehi was a merchant. In 600 B.C. Jerusalem was filled with prophets. Although I'd been over this before something about multiple prophets just didn't stick, and I always thought Lehi was the guy. On the contrary, Lehi was a normal, yet faithful man in this time period. We do not meet Lehi praying as a prophet, but as a concerned citizen who faithfully goes to pray on behalf of his fellow man.
What I think is interesting to point out is that Lehi was not first on the scene to suggest Jerusalem would be destroyed. When other prophets were warning about the imminent danger Lehi did not know the truth of their words right away but instead went out to pray.
It was only when Lehi acted on the words of the prophet and sought out a witness for himself that he was given a divine manifestation, and himself became a prophet.
From this perspective, I think Laman and Lemuel start to become more human. It is understandable to see how difficult it would be if a handful of old men were shouting that your city would be destroyed, and suddenly your father drops everything and joins them.
This is why Lehi is such an important character. His example shows us that sometimes following the prophet can be difficult. There was a difficult church policy that was brought into light when I got back from my mission and I was upset at first. Allot of people were upset, and I think this situation was not unlike how the prophets in Jerusalem felt in 600 BC. My father prayed for understanding and told me these policies didn't bother him. Initially, I think I was more like Lamen and Lemuel then Nephi. I was mad my Dad sided with a policy that seemed downright unfair to me. I was angry for awhile, but it was not until I humbled myself, and prayed that I gained a reassured confidence in my Father's judgment and the direction of our own prophet.
I think what Lehi would teach us, in our own day filled with controversial issues and difficult decisions would be that it is okay to question. It is okay to be unsure when the brethren of the church make policy that we don't understand or seems strange to us. What is not okay is to mock them, or fight them, but rather as Lehi did inquire of the Lord and seek guidance and understanding. And just as Lehi, when the spirit speaks truth to us, we need to be just as willing to stand behind it, even if it difficult for those around us to bear (I'm talking about me). We have never been asked to follow blindly, but if we seek answers the Lord will help us gain our own witness. Standing behind our testimony then becomes more important than any view others may hold regardless of how popular it may be.
So I'll leave everyone with this encouragement; if there's anything you struggle with don't give up. Pray and keep praying. Although Lehi's revelation came through prayer, inspiration can take many forms. I have seen first hand how difficult certain questions can be and have experienced myself how easy it can be to want to give up on testimony. Please hold on and continue searching. I heard someone say recently that the cliches in life hide it's greatest truths. One cliche is that things work out and answers come right as you are about to give up. I have been close to giving up on the gospel before, but it was the decision to hold on just a little longer and search just a little bit further that has given me the answers to the questions that were impediments to my faith. Enduring to the end is not just a cliche, it is a central principle in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and it is through this endurance and unyielding faith that we may come to know and understand the mysteries of God.
Thanks for reading!
-Jake
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